Agricultural News

Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Tom Buchanan Says He is Delighted President Trump has Pulled the Plug on WOTUS

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:11:53 CST

President Donald Trump today issued an executive order calling on the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to overhaul the Obama administration’s overreaching Waters of the U.S. rule. OKFB President Tom Buchanan issued the following statement praising President Trump’s actions.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau is delighted today by President Trump’s executive order to overhaul the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule, which is a perfect example of regulatory overreach by a rogue federal agency.

“The WOTUS rule, which defined the waters protected under the Clean Water Act, would have vastly expanded EPA jurisdiction by giving the agency authority over creek beds, ponds and even ditches. Farmers and ranchers across the country, along with Farm Bureau and hundreds of other agricultural organizations, opposed the rule because it would have unnecessarily stifled the production of safe and affordable food.

“Under the prior administration, the EPA ignored the concerns of the agricultural industry and even used taxpayer funds to lobby in support of its own rules.

“We look forward to working alongside the new EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as he reviews the rule. We trust Pruitt will work to protect the environment, while also preserving private property rights. We especially want to thank Sen. Jim Inhofe for his tireless work to ensure reasonable regulations.”